Geo-Informatics for Mountain Environment Management (co-funded by Eurasia-Pacific Uninet, Austria, 2008)

INTRODUCTION

Mountainous regions are generally characterised by fragile environment wherein various components of nature are delicately balanced. The economic activities in the mountains of less developed countries are quite different from those in the more developed countries. The societies living in the mountainous environments of less developed countries depend largely on the direct exploitation of natural resources. The growing population is exerting more pressure on the limited natural resources which is causing environmental degradation. Natural environmental degradation in the mountains expands rapidly due to their fragile nature and may cause serious immediate as well as long-term socio-economic and environmental problems not only for the local communities but also for the people living in the adjacent lowlands. Thus, an in-depth understanding and management of mountain environments is important for the wellbeing of local people as well as for those living in adjacent plains.

OBJECTIVE

• enhance conceptual understanding of Environmental Management with special emphasis on Mountain Environments and fundamentals of Geo-Informatics & GIScience
• give practical training for exploring the applications of Geo-Informatics in Mountain Environment Management
  

ACTIVITIES

Following activities are conducted to achieve the objective:

• orgnise a short and intensive Train-the-Trainer ’GIScience Workshop’ at the host institution i.e. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Khumaltar, Nepal and invite particpants from several universities, instituions and organisations.
• Deliver lectures covering conceptual understanding of Environmental Management with special emphasis on Mountain Environments and fundamentals of Geo-Informatics & GIScience.
• Give ’hands-on-training’ of GIS Software and practically exploring the applications of Geo-Informatics.
  

The reason for organising a short intensive multi-partner ’Train-the-Trainer Workshop' is to share the ’know-how’ and generate higher multiplier effect within a short period and initiate a network for future cooperation.

PARTNERS

Organiser Institutions

AUSTRIA:  - Austrian Academy of Sciences - GIScience, Vienna / Salzburg  - Centre for Geoinformatics, (Z_GIS), University of Salzburg, Salzburg  - Eurasia-Pacific Uninet, Vienna   NEPAL:  - International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Khumaltar

Participant Institutions

AUSTRIA:  - Graz University of Technology, Graz  - University of Graz, Graz  - University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck  - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna  - Vienna University of Technology, Vienna   BHUTAN:  - College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa  - Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan, Kanglung INDIA:  - Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar  - Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi  - University of Madras, Chennai  - University of Pune, Pune NEPAL:  - Institute of Forestry, Pokhara  - Institute of Forestry, Hatauda  - International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Khumaltar  - Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel  - Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu RUSSIA:  - Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg

OUTCOMES

• An intensive Train-the-Trainer Workshop was organised at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Khumaltar (Nepal) from 1st to 10th September, 2008
• Total number of 35 participants from 19 institutions and 3 organisations took part in the workshop and completed individual projects focussing on several application areas of Geo-Informatics and GIScience for Mountain Environment Management.
• The workshop was combined with the 10th International Symposium on High Mountain Remote Sensing and Cartography (HMRSC - X) & Field Excursion held at International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Khumaltar (Nepal) from 8th to 10th September, 2008. This provided ample opportunity to the workshop participants for having a wider exposure to various aspects of mountain environmentmanagement. 

Contact: Dr. Shahnawaz, Centre for Geoinformatics (Z_GIS), University of Salzburg, Austria.